Some may argue there is nothing witty about murder, which you see in this film in the first few minutes committed by two elegantly dressed and well groomed handsome men on another elegantly dressed and handsome man in a well appointed apartment with a magnificent view of the city. Moreover, these two dandies just have to SEE if they can commit the perfect murder. In some ways the film is not just a meditation on good and evil, and at heart, the ethics of killing another human being, but also considers the recreation activities of those who have "everything". When one has every material advantage, the biggest house, the most exprensive car, a lover, drugs (presumably) what now for fun? And what if you are among the most intelligent and well educated individual on earth, doesn't that make you better than others and give you the right to make decisions over others lives? Especially the stupid, the unattractive, the lazy, the disabled - from here isn't it a small step to those of a different race, different culture? ROPE may be an allegory too for all those suited Foreign Affairs experts in their suits making recommendations about which country to bomb next. Then again it may just be another elegant transformation of a theatre piece to titillate the jaded appetite of those satiated by too much drawing room comedy. Richly photographed in colour, with outstanding actors. Worth owning.

Brilliantly made film by Mr Kubrick which gets the viewer in its grip from the opening shot of a little VW bug edging its way up a road on the side of a very large mountainous valley with a stupendous, Wagnerian like intimidating soundtrack of orchestral music. These litttle people, in their little car, are soon occupying, as caretakers over winter, alone, a huge hotel. One them, the husband, goes mad, or perhaps, madder, the child, starts seeing ghosts, and the third has a nervous breakdown. A tour de force for Mr Nicholson who lets fly all his acting skills. Along with Carrie perhaps the best film of a Stephen King original. If you willingly suspend disbelief the film can be remarkably unsettling. One instance is when the wife discovers husband's manuscript he's been working on for some months - it contains just one sentence repeated thousands of times, which Kubrick insisted be typed up by hand for authenticity - the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog HELPPPP!!!

A lot of talent went into this trashy film. Long flights of stairs, darkness, dogs, and psychiatrists are scary but there is also much unintended comedy - a priest who boxes and jogs and lights a cigarette just after his morning run deserves what he gets in this film; Mr Von Sydow's exorcism ritual must have had the cast rolling around clutching themselves in painful laughter; and Ms Blair wetting herself in company goes down a treat. Entertaining, but........

Brilliantly constructed, narrated and photographed and supplemented by truly astonishing black and white photos by Mr Hurley, this is one of the most moving tales of survival ever told occurring as it does at the time of the carnage of World War One that was, unbeknown to them, engulfing the world. It is also in the context of knowing that these men (and, for quite a while, a cat) had none of the technology or sophisticated equipment which is commonplace now. The final voyage of a few of them in a row boat across the Southern Ocean is unbelievable, but is almost capped by their final race by foot across an island to their Norwegian saviours. It is the most telling example of a leader refusing to give up on his men I have ever encountered. Mr Shackleton gave new meaning to "selfless" and to "leadership". If you missed this wonderful film at your local IMAX, then buy this DVD.

The cars are VERY big, and the sweaters are VERY provocative in this B horror show from the 50's. The truly ugly aliens which inhabit the bodies of a few regular guys who inhabit Main Street, U.S.A. are foiled by beautiful Marge and a stand in for Rin Tin Tin. Well made, fun, with good acting throughout.

Relish this great director's (maybe)best film in which ordinary places turn into nightmares ( seconds into the film the hero's dad gets stung by a bee then choked almost to death by a garden hose) and nightmare turns into dream (the hero, Kyle McLachlan, is confronted by the woman he has been spying on from her closet within her flat (Ms Rosselini). She wields a VERY large knife once used as a prop in PSYCHO, orders him to strip, then kneels in front him and the viewer is uncertain whether she is going to castrate the naughty boy or fellate him. In the event she does not castrate him.) Set design Interiors reflect in every detail the weird and not so weird personalities of the characters - in Dorothy's flat (Ms Rosselini) there is a garish yellow record player next to the mauve sofa with its red velveteen cushions, pink walls, candy carpet, green steam heater and kitsch peuce green flower pots. The characters seem larger than life - has the girl next door ever oozed as much sex as Ms Laura Dern? Has there ever been a cheap nighclub singer more beautiful than Ms Rosselini and has such beauty every been stripped so bare by the end of the film, a performance of incredible courage. What is it all about? It's all about a boy's adventure. The boy (Kyle McLachlan) asks at one point "Why are there people like Frank?" speaking of whom, when Frank (Dennis Hopper) places the fingers and thums of his right hand together and points them at your forehead, be afraid, be VERY afraid. Much to relish for the cinema lover. A diamond amongst the pap.To be treasured on DVD.

Not only is this the most erotic British film ever made... it is one of the most erotic films ever and in terms of understanding what IS erotic, is a pre-eminent example of 'less is more'. It has been remarked about some famous religious art works that there appears to be a conjunction between the face in a moment of religious ecstasy and the face in a moment of sexual ecstasy. Mr Powell and Mr Pressburger understood that entirely and made a feast of it. Just to consider the use of red: blushing nuns, red flowers, blood on a white habit, cherry lipstick, magenta dress, ruby shoes, a maroon compact... Combine this with the pulsating drums, everpresent wind, the oiled bodies of the "natives" and images of a booted foot hovering near the prostrate body of one of the nuns and you have a film of extraordinary sexual power. Never have the bare legs of a male, from just above the knees down, looked so provocative as they do in this film. But this is just part of this magnificent work. To own.

It's always interesting and go back for another look, as one does with all great works. Memory plays tricks. And we all bring something of ourselves to the work. Having been a thief in my time I was struck with this film the first time I saw it many moons ago. Let me assure you, Mr Hitchcock knows the mind of a thief. I've seen this film a number of times and it has continued to grow in affection and stature as an excellent instance of his very best work. The support material, on the making of the film, its casting, how Hitch directs his actors, its genesis, actor's comments, are very informative and in the case of Ms Baker and Ms Latham, quite rivetting. Mr Bernard Hermann of course has a field day, as does Mr Freud. To call this work "cheesie" is a serious misrepresentation of one of Hollywood's finest efforts. A gem.

The first chilling moment in this film is when relatively poor and struggling art framer and cultured European (Swiss) Bruno Ganz is introduced to art dealer American (Dennis Hopper)) Tom Ripley at an art auction, and refuses to shake his hand. From that moment, Mr Ganz is more or less doomed. One theme of this film is the clash between two cultures, or at least two attitudes to art, money versus art, the contempt each has for the other. Another theme is how thrilling it would be to kill anyone who makes a fool of us in public. From the moment of the slight, the doomed Mr Ganz is slowly brought to his end - the mis en scene becomes a horror show of ordinary things made threatening, seagulls, art frames he works on he starts bumping into, a television set which is off zaps him with static electricity when he touches it, he stumbles in to objects whilst waiting for a train, the doodling on a piano by a "medical student" gangster becomes an atonal nightmare. The moment when Mr Ganz breathes onto the finest piece of gold leaf we can see him realising the breath of life is so precious, but he's losing it and he knows it.A stunning cinematic experience. A masterpiece and perhaps the finest transformation of Ms Highsmith's many Ripley adaptations, notwithstanding Mr Hitchcock.

Packed with cliches, beauty, wit, and after many viewings I still find the interchanges between the reading narrator (Mr Falk) and his ill? grandson tremendously moving and superbly acted and directed. The final line of the film spoken by Mr Falk "As you wish", in the context of the film, says more about love of grandparents for their grandchildren or indeed, the love of adults for children as they take off on their journey into the world of books and the imagination, than just about anything I know. There is much fun in between of course with great comic actors relishing the wit of the script. Much fun. Pure pleasure. To own and revisit from time to time.